Apple Gets Augmented: Acquires AR Company Metaio

Apple’s first big step into the next generation of computing won’t be with VR but with AR. Today TechCrunch has reported that Apple has acquired Metaio – one of the largest augmented reality firms in the world.

Metaio has been working with brands for years now bringing some of the most top notch augmented reality experiences out there – on a smartphone or tablet screen.

It remains to be seen what all will be done with Metaio – as will happen to the company’s 1000+ clients. Apple is remaining as coy as ever saying, “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

Judging by the company’s expertise it would seem that they will help Apple continue to develop any augmented reality projects that the company is working on. Including an augmented reality version of Apple maps that 9to5Mac discovered the company is working on.

We have reached out to our contacts at Metaio for more information and will report back if we hear anything more.